In the summer of 2004 Konte signed for Cambridge United and scored 3 goals in 9 appearances, this was enough to prompt interest from Hibernian, who signed him during the January 2005 transfer window, and he made his debut in a 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox the next month. His first goal was a late equaliser against Motherwell in May,[1] earning Hibs a crucial point in their successful quest to qualify for European competition.[2]

The 2005–06 season was less rewarding for Konte though, as he endured inconsistent form, infrequent appearances and a lack of goals, this led to him being ironically dubbed the "Mali Magician" by some Hibs fans.[2] When Konte again struggled to gain first team action in the first part of the 2006–07 season (despite scoring twice against Dinaburg FC in the UEFA Intertoto Cup)[3] he was released from his contract.[2]

On September 2009, after a nine-month stint with Turate,[4] he was signed by Sicilian club Messina on a free transfer.[5] Amadou's greatest fan was Hibbee Kevin Piaskowski who was the only hibs fan on the planet that got konte 19 on the back of his strip. Konte was once quote this that Kev was his hero for doing so

1.
Bamako
–
Bamako is the capital and largest city of Mali, with a population of 1.8 million. In 2006, it was estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and it is located on the Niger River, near the rapids that divide the upper and middle Niger valleys in the southwestern part of the country. Bamako is the administrative center. The city proper is a cercle in its own right, bamakos river port is located in nearby Koulikoro, along with a major regional trade and conference center. Bamako is the seventh-largest West African urban center after Lagos, Abidjan, Kano, Ibadan, Dakar, locally manufactured goods include textiles, processed meat, and metal goods. Commercial fishing occurs on the Niger River, the name Bamako comes from the Bambara word meaning crocodile tail. The area of the city has evidence of settlements since the Palaeolithic era, the early inhabitants traded gold, ivory, kola nuts, and salt. By the 11th century, the Empire of Ghana became the first kingdom to dominate the area, Bamako had become a major market town, and a centre for Islamic scholars, with the establishment of two universities and numerous mosques in medieval times. The Mali Empire grew during the early Middle Ages and replaced Ghana as the dominant kingdom in west Africa, dominating Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, in the 14th century, the Mali Empire became increasingly wealthy because of the trade of cotton, gold and salt. By the late 19th century, the French dominated much of western Africa, and in 1883, present-day Mali became part of the colony of French Sudan, cotton and rice farming was encouraged through large irrigation projects and a new railroad connected Mali to Dakar on the Atlantic coast. Mali was annexed then into French West Africa, a federation which lasted from 1895 to 1959, Mali gained independence from France in April 1960, and the Republic of Mali was later established. At this time, Bamako had a population of around 160,000, during the 1960s, the country became socialist and Bamako was subject to Soviet investment and influence. However, the economy declined as state enterprises collapsed and unrest was widespread, eventually, Moussa Traoré led a successful coup and ruled Mali for 23 years. However his rule was characterised by severe droughts and poor government management, in the late 1980s the people of Bamako and Mali campaigned for a free-market economy and multiparty democracy. In 1990, the National Congress for Democratic Initiative was set up by the lawyer Mountaga Tall, and these with the Association des élèves et étudiants du Mali and the Association Malienne des Droits de lHomme aimed to oust Moussa Traoré. Under the old constitution, all unions had to belong to one confederation. When the leadership of the UNTM broke from the government in 1990, students, even children, played an increasing role in the protest marches in Bamako, and homes and businesses of those associated with the regime were ransacked by crowds. On 22 March 1991, a large-scale protest march in central Bamako was violently suppressed, four days later, a military coup deposed Traoré

2.
Mali
–
Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres, the population of Mali is 14.5 million. The countrys economy centers on agriculture and fishing, some of Malis prominent natural resources include gold, being the third largest producer of gold in the African continent, and salt. About half the population lives below the poverty line of $1.25 a day. A majority of the population are Muslims, present-day Mali was once part of three West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade, the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire. During its golden age, there was a flourishing of mathematics, astronomy, literature, at its peak in 1300, the Mali Empire covered an area about twice the size of modern-day France and stretched to the west coast of Africa. In the late 19th century, during the Scramble for Africa, France seized control of Mali, French Sudan joined with Senegal in 1959, achieving independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. Shortly thereafter, following Senegals withdrawal from the federation, the Sudanese Republic declared itself the independent Republic of Mali. After a long period of one-party rule, a coup in 1991 led to the writing of a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic, multi-party state. In January 2012, a conflict broke out in northern Mali, in which Tuareg rebels took control of by April and declared the secession of a new state. The conflict was complicated by a coup that took place in March. In response to Islamist territorial gains, the French military launched Opération Serval in January 2013, a month later, Malian and French forces recaptured most of the north. Presidential elections were held on 28 July 2013, with a second round held on 11 August. The name Mali is taken from the name of the Mali Empire, the name was originally derived from the Mandinka or Bambara word mali, meaning “hippopotamus”, but it eventually came to mean the place where the king lives. The word carries the connotation of strength, D. Niane suggests in Sundiata, An Epic of Old Mali that it is not impossible that Mali was the name given to one of the capitals of the emperors. 14th century Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta reported that the capital of the Mali Empire was indeed called Mali and this name could have formerly been that of a city. In old Mali there is one village called Malikoma which means “New Mali. ”Another theory suggests that Mali is a Fulani pronunciation of the name of the Mande peoples. It is suggested that a sound shift led to the change, whereby in Fulani the alveolar segment /nd/ shifts to /l/, Mali was once part of three famed West African empires which controlled trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, slaves, and other precious commodities

3.
Forward (association football)
–
Forwards are the players on an association football team who play nearest to the opposing teams goal, and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals. Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players, modern team formations generally include one to three forwards, for example, the common 4–2–3–1 formation includes one forward. Unconventional formations may include more than three forwards, or none, the centre-forward is often a tall player, typically known as a target man, whose main function is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the strikers or central attacking midfielders. The present role of centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward usually must be strong, to win key headers and outmuscle defenders. The term centre-forward is taken from the football playing formation in which there were five forward players. The number would become synonymous with the centre-forward position. Strikers are known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position. They are typically fast players with ball control and dribbling abilities. More agile strikers like Michael Owen have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short burst speed, a good striker should be able to shoot confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. Deep-lying forwards have a history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards, in fact, a coined term, the nine-and-a-half, has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position. In Italy, this role is known as a rifinitore or seconda punta, whereas in Brazil, it is known as segundo atacante. An outside forward plays as the forward on the right or left wing – as an outside right or outside left. As football tactics have largely developed, and wingers have dropped back to become midfielders, many commentators and football analysts still refer to the wing positions as outside right and outside left. However, in the British game they are counted as part of the midfield. It is a duty to beat opposing full-backs, deliver cut-backs or crosses from wide positions and, to a lesser extent, to beat defenders. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team, in their Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese usage, the defensive duties of the winger have been usually confined to pressing the opposition fullbacks when they have the ball

4.
Olympique Noisy-le-Sec
–
Olympique Noisy-le-Sec Banlieue 93 is a French association football team founded in 1943. They are based in Noisy-le-Sec, France and are playing in the Championnat de France Amateur 2 Group E. They play at the Stade Salvador Allende in Noisy-le-Sec, between 1997 and 2002 Noisy-le-Sec played in the French third division, the Championnat National. Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality

5.
Cambridge United F.C.
–
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. The club currently plays in League Two, the tier of the English league system. The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, and took the name Cambridge United in 1951 and it first competed in the Football League in 1970, staying there for 35 seasons until relegation in 2005. Football League status was regained in 2014, after nine seasons in the Conference, Cambridge United have had two spells in the leagues second tier, from 1978 to 1984, and again from 1991 to 1993. They reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once during the early 1990s, the club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, approximately 1.86 miles east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium has a capacity of 8,127, made up of terracing, the club had close links with Cambridge Regional College, a team formed in 2006 as a de facto reserve team, however, CRC folded at the end of the 2013–14 season. The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge, a club called Cambridge United existed in Cambridge from 1909, but it was not linked to the club that exists today. The club played in amateur leagues for many of its early years. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951 and they played in the Eastern Counties League until finishing as runners-up in 1957–58, which saw them promoted to the Southern League. Three years later, Cambridge United reached the Premier Division of the Southern League, after election to the Football League in 1970, to replace Bradford, the club was promoted from the Fourth Division after three seasons, but went straight back down. Following the appointment of Ron Atkinson as manager, Cambridge won successive promotions took them into the Second Division in 1978 – a mere eight years after joining the Football League. Atkinson had gone to West Bromwich Albion, a First Division club, in January 1978, and was succeeded by John Docherty, Cambridge peaked at eighth place in the Second Division in 1980. However, a season in 1983–84 was followed by a further relegation in 1984–85. They had to apply for re-election in their first season back in the Fourth Division, the early 1990s was the Us most successful period. Dion Dublin scored the goal in a game against Chesterfield. Under Beck, United gained promotion from the Fourth Division and had reached the FA Cup quarter finals in 1990, and reached them again a year later. United reached the play-offs in 1992, after finishing 5th in the Second Division and this was the clubs highest final league placing to date. The following season the club sacked John Beck and were relegated from the new First Division, further relegation followed two seasons later

6.
Hibernian F.C.
–
It is one of three SPFL clubs in the city, the others being their Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts and Edinburgh City. Hibernian was founded in 1875 by Irish immigrants, but support for the club is now based on rather than ethnicity or religion. The Irish heritage of Hibernian is still reflected, however, in its name, colours, the name of the club is usually shortened to Hibs. The team are also called The Hibees and The Cabbage, a shortening of the slang for Hibs of Cabbage and Ribs, by fans of the club. Home matches are played at the Easter Road stadium, in use since 1893, Hibernian have played in the second tier of the Scottish football league system, known as the Scottish Championship, since being relegated in 2014. Hibernian have won the Scottish league championship four times, most recently in 1952, three of those four championships were won between 1948 and 1952, when the club had the services of The Famous Five, a notable forward line. The club have won the Scottish Cup three times, in 1887,1902 and 2016, Hibs have also won the Scottish League Cup three times, in 1972,1991 and 2007. The club was founded in 1875 by Irishmen from the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, the name is derived from Hibernia, the Roman name for Ireland. James Connolly, the famous Irish Republican leader, was a Hibs fan, there was some sectarian resistance initially to an Irish club participating in Scottish football, but Hibs established themselves as a force in Scottish football in the 1880s. Hibs were the first club from the east coast of Scotland to win a major trophy and they went on to defeat Preston North End, who had won the 1887 FA Cup, in a friendly match described as the Association Football Championship of the World Decider. Mismanagement over the few years led to Hibs becoming homeless. A lease on the Easter Road site was acquired in late 1892, despite this interruption, the club today views the period since 1875 as one continued history and therefore counts the honours won between 1875 and 1891, including the 1887 Scottish Cup. The club were admitted to the Scottish Football League in 1893, a significant change at this time was that players were no longer required to be members of the Catholic Young Mens Society. Hibs are not seen today as being an Irish or Roman Catholic institution, for instance, the Irish harp was only re-introduced to the club badge when it was last re-designed in 2000. This design reflects the three pillars of the identity, Ireland, Edinburgh and Leith. Geography rather than religion is now seen as the reason for supporting Hibs. Hibs had some success after being reformed, winning the 1902 Scottish Cup, after this, however, the club endured a long barren spell. The club lost its placing in the league, and were relegated for the first time in 1931, the notorious Scottish Cup drought began as they reached three cup finals, two in consecutive years, but lost each of them

7.
Kalamata F.C.
–
Kalamata F. C. is a professional football club based in Kalamata, Greece, currently competing in Football League 2. Kalamata F. C. was formed in 1967 in a merger among Apollon Kalamata, the team has competed in the Greek first division seven times, in 1972-73, 1974–75, from 1995-96 to 1997-98, and from 1999-00 to 2000-01. Kalamata F. C. achieved its first two promotions to the first division, in 1972 and 1974, under President Lykourgos Gaitanaros and its first two promotions in the early 1970s are considered the teams first golden era. The team could not stick in the top flight though, businessman Stavros Papadopoulos bought the team in 1992, while the club was stuck in Gamma Ethniki, the third division. Upon his arrival, Papadopoulos began pouring an amount of money into the club. After Papadopoulos departure Kalamata fell to the division and has since stayed in the lower divisions. The Papadopoulos era of Kalamata F. C. saw the signing of international players from Ghana, such as Samuel Johnson, Afo Dodoo, Ebenezer Hagan, Peter Ofori-Quaye. Kalamata F. C. is credited with starting the trend among Greek clubs of signing African talent since the late 1990s. After being demoted to the division in 1997, they eventually started to bring in young Brazilian talent. The Brazilians helped the gain promotion to the first division right away in 1998. One of them, Hilton Assis, turned out to be the first cousin of Brazil, Hilton was once a promising player in Brazil who starred for Internacional of Porto Alegre, but serious knee operations curtailed his career. When he was healthy he was Kalamatas top goal scorer, Kalamatas long-standing rivals are Paniliakos and Egaleo F. C. a poor and industrial suburb of Athens. Kalamata FC is also claimed to have some of the most passionate, Kalamata F. C. s official colours are black and white, and the team is known in Greece as the Black Storm. Kalamata plays its matches at Kalamata Metropolitan Stadium in Kalamata. The stadium was completed in 1976, and currently has a capacity of 5,400. Kalamata F. C. s most famous club is the Bulldogs Fan Club. Kalamatas long-standing rivals are Paniliakos, located in Pyrgos in the western Peloponnese, Messiniakos is Kalamatas cross-town rival, but Messiniakos generally competed in lower leagues. Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality

8.
S.S.D. Potenza Calcio
–
The history of Città di Potenza S. S. A. R. L. or simply Città di Potenza starts on 2000 when it was founded as Lucania Team. It was an Italian association football club, based in Potenza, Città di Potenza S. S. was founded in 2000 as Lucania Team. In 2009 it was renamed as A. S. D, the team was promoted to Serie D in the 2011-12 season, obtained by winning Eccellenza Basilicata, after an ascent started in Terza Categoria in the 2000-01 season. In the summer 2012 it was renamed with the current name in order to continue the history of Potenza. In summer 2013 the club wasnt able to enter 2013-14 Eccellenza, the teams colors were red and blue. It played at the Stadio Alfredo Viviani, in Potenza, Italy with capacity of 5,500 places, Eccellenza Basilicata, Winner, 2011-12 Regional Coppa Italia Basilicata, Winner, 2011-12

9.
Spezia Calcio
–
Spezia Calcio is an Italian football club, based in La Spezia, Liguria. Currently it plays in Serie B, hosting games at the 10, Spezia Calcio was founded in 1906. See also Campionato Alta Italia 1944 In 1944, because of the World War II the Italian football federation decided to split the top league in regional rounds, Spezia won the round and qualified to the semi-finals, in which it challenged Suzzara, Carpi and Modena. Spezia won also this round, winning five of the six matches played, by winning the semi-final round, Spezia was admitted to play a two-legs play-off against Bologna. The first match, played in Bologna, was suspended because of incidents started after the 1–0 goal of Spezia, contested by the Bologna supporters, the finals, held in Milan, were played against Venezia and Torino. On 9 July 1944, the first match between Spezia and Venezia was played, it ended in a 1–1 draw, commented by the Gazzetta as surprising result, on 16 July, Spezia challenged the Great Torino, with Vittorio Pozzo as coach and Silvio Piola as striker. The match ended in an epic 2–1 victory of Spezia, after the third match, in which Torino beat Venezia in a 5–2 win, Spezia was declared champion. Today, Spezia remembers the 1944 triumph by playing with a badge on the teams official jersey. In 2002, the reached a agreement with Inter, made the club became Inters feeder club. The team got Goran Pandev, Aco Stojkov and Alex Cordaz in the first season, in the second season, Cristian Lizzori, Luca Ceccarelli and Nicola Napolitano was signed from Inter. In 2004–05 season Spezia got Antonio Rizzo from ACF Fiorentina and Paolo Castelli from Inter, players likes Alex Cordaz, Riccardo Meggiorini and Paolo Hernán Dellafiore joined the team directly from Inter to boost the team in January 2005. The season ended with winning Coppa Italia Serie C, after the season, Inter sold most of the shares of Spezia. The next season started with the arrival of a new owner, after a long battle for the first position with rivals Genoa C. F. Spezia were crowned Serie C1 champion and promoted to Serie B after 55 years of absence, the squad included Vito Grieco, Massimiliano Guidetti, Giuseppe Alessi, Massimiliano Varricchio and Roberto Maltagliati. Life in a Serie B with powerhouses Juventus, Genoa C. F. C. and S. S. C, napoli was difficult for the newly promoted Ligurian side, which themselves were fighting to avoid the relegation spots. Spezia then survived by winning the round against Hellas Verona. But in the season, with Isah Eliakwu, Colombo and Do Prado. In 2008, due to financial difficulty and following their relegation from Serie B, in June 2011 FIGC sanctioned numbers of former board member of old Spezia for sports fraud

10.
A.C.R. Messina
–
Associazioni Calcio Riunite Messina 1947 is an Italian football club based in Messina, Sicily. It currently plays in Lega Pro, the origins of the team go back to 1900 when Messina F. C was founded in the city. The club has spent most of its history in the lower Italian football leagues and they last competed in 43 Specimen in 2007–08, this following three consecutive seasons in Serie A. On July 2008 Messina were excluded from football due to financial issues. The farthest Messina has reached in the Coppa Italia is the last 16, in the past, they have also reached the semi-finals in the Coppa Italia Serie C. Messina have appeared in the Italys top league Serie A, for a total of five seasons during their history. The clubs first spell in the league was in the 1960s, the highest ever position they have finished is 7th, which happened during the 2004–05 season. The history of Messina Football Club began when Alfredo Marangolo returned to Sicily in August 1900 from studying in London, in Great Britain the game of football was fast gathering popularity with The Football League in its early stages. Messina Football Club were officially founded on 1 December 1900 by Marangolo with the help of Anglican reverend Caulifield, at the college where Marangolo visited he had also made the acquaintance of Ignazio Majo Pagano who formed Anglo Palermitan on his return, only a month before Messina. Indeed, the first Sicilian derby was held between Messina and Palermo on 18 April 1901,1000 fans turned out to Via Notarbartolo in support their club for the match. The game ended 3–2 to the Palermitan side, a strong bond, and healthy rivalry had built up between the two Sicilian clubs and a competition named the Whitaker Challenge Cup was arranged to be played between them. The first was held in 1905, Messina won another game, Messina repeated the feat the following year at San Ranieri, capturing the trophy in a 2–1 victory. Football resumed in Messina during the year, thanks largely to Arthur Barret Lascelles who used money from his own pocket to ensure football activity in the city would continue. By 1910 the funds of Barret had dried up and the club was folded, the club participated in the Italian Football Championship of 1921–22 organised by the C. C. I. Finishing third in the Sicilian group section, this was the first Championship in which clubs from the Island were entered, the following season the FIGC and CCI were unified. This coincided with mergers in Messina, as side, Umberto I Messina, was incorporated into US Messinese. The following month this new side was fused again, this time with Messina Sporting Club, only two years later in December 1924 FC Messina was melted, and the players became part of the reformed US Messinese. Finally, Messinese qualified for the semi-finals of the International league, here Messinese played against Alba Roma, Cavese and Liberty Bari, but failed to win a single match, scoring only two goals in six games. Messina would be promoted to Serie B for the 1932–33 campaign under the presidency of Francesco Lombardo and Koenigs coaching, the spell in Serie B was also notable for the local rivalry between them and Calcio Catania

11.
FC Minyor Pernik
–
FC Minyor Pernik is a Bulgarian football club from the town of Pernik, which currently competes in the Third League. The origins of the date back to 1919. Minyor came into existence with the merger of football clubs from Pernik. In 1944, SC Krakra, SC Svetkavitsa, SC Benkovski, after World War II, as Bulgaria became a Peoples Republic, the club was renamed to Republikanets 46. The club finally came to be known as Minyor in 1952, the club joined the Bulgarian top division in 1951. That same year, they laid the foundations of a strong team, the first match in the division was on March 2,1951 against Cherveno Zname Sofia. Minyors best seasons in the top division were in 1955 and 1961, in 1956, Minyors forward and captain Pavel Vladimirov became the top scorer of the division with 16 goals. Vladimirov holds Minyors overall appearance record -305 matches, the former forward is also the all-time leading scorer for the club with 98 goals. In 1958, the qualified for the final of the Bulgarian Cup. In 1962, Minyor was relegated to the second division, between 1962 and 2008, the club participated in the top and second divisions, regularly being promoted and relegated. Until the 2008–09 season, Minyor has played a total of 32 seasons in the first division, Minyors biggest victory in A PFG to date is the 6-0 win against Torpedo Pleven in 1951. Minyors largest defeat, 0–8, was against Beroe Stara Zagora in 1973, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality

12.
Persepam Madura Utama
–
Persatuan Sepak Bola Pamekasan, commonly known as Persepam, or P, is an Indonesian professional football club based in Pamekasan, East Java. The club plays in the Liga Indonesia Premier Division, in season 2012–13 the club was promoted to Indonesia Super League after finishing 3rd place in 2011–12 season. In January 2015, they changed their name from Persepam Madura United to Persepam Madura Utama, Liga Indonesia Premier Division Third-placed, 2011–12 As of 13 January 2015. Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. List of football clubs in Indonesia Profile at ligaindonesia. co. id Official Website

13.
Association football
–
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries and dependencies making it the worlds most popular sport, the game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, unless they are goalkeepers. Other players mainly use their feet to strike or pass the ball, the team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is level at the end of the game, the Laws of the Game were originally codified in England by The Football Association in 1863. Association football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association Football, the first written reference to the inflated ball used in the game was in the mid-14th century, Þe heued fro þe body went, Als it were a foteballe. The Online Etymology Dictionary states that the word soccer was split off in 1863, according to Partha Mazumdar, the term soccer originated in England, first appearing in the 1880s as an Oxford -er abbreviation of the word association. Within the English-speaking world, association football is now usually called football in the United Kingdom and mainly soccer in Canada and the United States. People in Australia, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand use either or both terms, although national associations in Australia and New Zealand now primarily use football for the formal name. According to FIFA, the Chinese competitive game cuju is the earliest form of football for which there is scientific evidence, cuju players could use any part of the body apart from hands and the intent was kicking a ball through an opening into a net. It was remarkably similar to football, though similarities to rugby occurred. During the Han Dynasty, cuju games were standardised and rules were established, phaininda and episkyros were Greek ball games. An image of an episkyros player depicted in low relief on a vase at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens appears on the UEFA European Championship Cup, athenaeus, writing in 228 AD, referenced the Roman ball game harpastum. Phaininda, episkyros and harpastum were played involving hands and violence and they all appear to have resembled rugby football, wrestling and volleyball more than what is recognizable as modern football. As with pre-codified mob football, the antecedent of all football codes. Non-competitive games included kemari in Japan, chuk-guk in Korea and woggabaliri in Australia, Association football in itself does not have a classical history. Notwithstanding any similarities to other games played around the world FIFA have recognised that no historical connection exists with any game played in antiquity outside Europe. The modern rules of football are based on the mid-19th century efforts to standardise the widely varying forms of football played in the public schools of England

14.
First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
–
The First Professional Football League is a Bulgarian professional league for mens association football clubs. Standing at the top of the Bulgarian football league system, it serves as the primary football competition. The league determines the champion of Bulgaria and is contested by fourteen teams and it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the second tier of the Bulgarian football league pyramid, the Second League. Known by its previous name A Group, the Bulgarian top-tier was fully restructured during the summer of 2016, the Bulgarian football championship was inaugurated in 1924 as the Bulgarian State Football Championship and has been played in a league format since 1948, when the A Group was established. The champions of the First League have the right to participate in the rounds of the UEFA Champions League based on the leagues European coefficient. Additionally, two UEFA Europa League spots are allocated to the team in the final standings and the winner of the European playoffs. A further fourth spot may also be granted to the fourth placed team in the league ranking. A total of 67 clubs have competed in the Bulgarian top-tier since its establishment, in the last decade, many teams such as the current champions Ludogorets were introduced for the first time in the league. In 2016–17, Vereya Stara Zagora became the 67th club to participate in the competition, since 1948, eleven different teams have been crowned champions of Bulgaria. The three most successful clubs are CSKA Sofia with 31 titles, Levski Sofia with 26 titles, the current champions Ludogorets Razgrad won their fifth consecutive title in their fifth First League season in 2015–16. The first football championship of Bulgaria started in 1924 in a knockout format, an attempt to form a league as the top division of the Bulgarian football league system was made in 1937–1940, when the National Football Division was created. There were 10 teams, each playing twice against all the others, once home, the team that finished first in the table became champions. The first season of the A Republican Football Group started in the autumn of 1948. In that season, ten teams participated in the league, Levski, Septemvri, Lokomotiv, Slavia and Spartak from the capital city Sofia, the first football champion of the A Republican Football Group was Levski in 1948–49. The 1949/50 season in the A Group was not completed, the league was stopped after the first fixture. It was then decided that the championship of Bulgaria would be played in a cycle as in the Soviet Union. In the autumn of 1949, qualification tournaments were played to determine the teams that would play in the next 1950 season, in the next two seasons the number of teams in the league was increased to 12, and for the 1953 season there were 15 teams. In seasons 1954 and 1955 there were 14 teams in the league, in 1958, the championship was again stopped after the spring half-season, as had happened in 1948

15.
RC Strasbourg Alsace
–
Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace is a French association football club founded in 1906, based in the city of Strasbourg, Alsace. It has possessed professional status since 1933 and currently plays in Ligue 2, renamed RC Strasbourg Alsace, they won the CFA championship in 2012–13, and eventually became Championnat National champions in 2015–16. The clubs home stadium, since 1914, is Stade de la Meinau and they are managed by Thierry Laurey, who replaced Jacky Duguépéroux in May 2016. The club is one of six clubs to have won all three major French trophies, the Championship in 1979, the Coupe de France in 1951,1966,2001 and the Coupe de la Ligue in 1997 and 2005. Strasbourg is also among the six teams to have played more than 2,000 games in Frances top flight and has part in 52 European games since 1961. Despite these accomplishments, the club has never managed to establish itself as one of Frances leading clubs. Racing has changed its manager 52 times in 75 years of professional play, the destiny of the club has always been wedded to the history of Alsace. Like the region, Racing has changed nationality three times and has a troubled history, when Alsace was returned to France in 1919, the club changed its name from 1. FC Neudorf to the current Racing club de Strasbourg in imitation of Pierre de Coubertins Racing Club de France, a clear gesture of francophilia. Racing players lived through World War II as most Alsatians did, evacuated in 1939, annexed in 1940, when Alsace was definitively returned to France, Racings identity switched towards Jacobinism with, for example, emotional wins in the cup in 1951 and 1966 amidst Franco-Alsatian controversies. More recently, the club has been eager to promote its European vocation along with its local ties. The club was founded in 1906 by a group of youngsters in the Neudorf neighbourhood of what was then Straßburg, Elsaß-Lothringen, in the German Empire, with the help of their primary-school teacher, they formed a team called Erster Fußball Club Neudorf, commonly named FC Neudorf. FCN was a club in a then-remote southern part of the Strasbourg area. Local football had been dominated since the 1890s by the more central, FC Neudorf joined the southern German league in 1909, starting at its lowest level, Division C. They captured the Division C championship three years later, earning promotion to Division B, in 1914, FC Neudorf was able to evict rivals Frankonia from the Haemmerle Garten for a rent of 300 marks a year. This location would become the site of the Stade de la Meinau. The word is pronounced in French or in Alsatian without any English accentuation. Racing quickly joined French competitions and won the Alsace championship in 1923,1924 and 1927 and they also took part in the Coupe de France, the only national competition at that time

16.
FC Porto
–
Futebol Clube do Porto, MHIH, OM, commonly known as FC Porto or simply Porto, is a Portuguese sports club based in Porto. It is best known for the football team playing in the Primeira Liga. They are nicknamed Dragões, for the mythical creature atop the clubs crest, the club supporters are called Portistas. Since 2003, Porto have played their matches at the Estádio do Dragão, which replaced the previous 52-year-old ground. Porto is the second most successful Portuguese team, with a total of 74 official trophies,67 were achieved in domestic competitions and comprise 27 league titles,16 Taça de Portugal,4 Campeonato de Portugal, and a record 20 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. Porto is the team in Portuguese league history to have won two titles without conceding any defeat, namely in the 2010–11 and 2012–13 seasons. In the former, Porto achieved the largest-ever difference of points between champion and runner-up in a system, on their way to a second quadruple. In addition, they were runners-up in the 1983–84 European Cup Winners Cup, together with Barcelona and Real Madrid, Porto have the most appearances in the UEFA Champions League group stage. At the end of the 2015–16 season, Porto were 16th in the UEFA club coefficient ranking, Porto was the only Portuguese club that was part of G-14 member. Porto played its first matches with other Portuguese clubs, including one against Lisbons Foot-Ball Club Lisbonense on 2 March 1894. This match had the patronage of King Carlos I and Queen Amélie of Orléans, almeidas enthusiasm and involvement with the club waned due to family pressure, and by the turn of the century, Porto had entered a period of inactivity. In 1906, José Monteiro da Costa returned to Porto after finishing his studies in England, on 2 August 1906, Porto was revived and Monteiro da Costa appointed its president. Although football was the force, the club also promoted other sports, including gymnastics, weightlifting and wrestling, athletics. Shortly after, Porto rented its first ground and recruited a French coach named Adolphe Cassaigne, on 15 December 1907, Porto played its first match against a foreign team, hosting Spains Real Fortuna. In the following month, Porto returned the visit and played its first match abroad, four years later, the club won the inaugural staging of the Taça José Monteiro da Costa, securing its first-ever official title. In 1912, Porto joined efforts with Leixões to establish the Porto Football Association, Porto finished the first season as runners-up, behind local rivals Boavista, but in the following season the club won its first championship. The 1921–22 season was marked by the creation of the first nationwide football competition – the Campeonato de Portugal, organised by the national federation, this knockout tournament gathered the winners of the different regional championships to determine the Portuguese champion. After clinching its fourth consecutive title, Porto defeated Sporting CP in the inaugural edition

17.
CF Villanovense
–
Club de Fútbol Villanovense is a Spanish football team based in Villanueva de la Serena, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1992 it plays in Segunda División B – Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Romero Cuerda, CF Villanovense was founded in 1992 with the aim to replace dissolved CD Villanovense. In the 2014–15 season, the played for the first time the promotion play-offs to Segunda División. The following season, the reached the last 32 of the Copa del Rey. Despite holding the Catalans to a draw in the first leg at home. 8 seasons in Segunda División B12 seasons in Tercera División As of 2 November 2016 Note, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Tercera División, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2013–14 Official website Futbolme team profile Official forum Estadios de España Club & stadium history

18.
Championnat National 2
–
The Championnat de France Amateur, commonly referred to as simply CFA and formerly known as National 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the tier of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in four groups playing 32 games each totalling 1280 games in the season, most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the week of January. The Championnat de France amateur was initially founded by the French Football Federation in 1927 and was composed of the amateur league champions. The league served as the first division of French football until 1929 before the league was converted to the league that exists today in 1932. The current incarnation of the CFA was founded in 1993 as National 2, most clubs that participate in the league are amateur clubs, hence the league name, but a small number of clubs are semi-professional. The matches in the league attract on average between 800 and 1,000 spectators per match, however, this average is dragged down by the minuscule turnouts for the pros home reserve matches. The amateur championship of France was created in 1993 under the name National 2 as an heir to the now-defunct Division 3, the leagues debut coincided with the creation of the Championnat National, the third division of French football, which is commonly known as National. For the first three years of the competition, a champion was crowned in France regardless of whether the club was amateur or a reserve team. In 1998, the French Football Federation changed the competitions format creating two separate tables, one for the clubs and another for the reserve teams of professional clubs. The dual tables allowed the league to declare a champion for the amateurs, in 2001, the federation ended this style and reverted to the original format allowing both the amateur clubs and reserve teams to be grouped together based on their regional location. The winner of each group would earn promotion to the Championnat National. Meanwhile, the teams continued to use the previous format with the best reserve teams of each group being inserted into a tournament to decide the reserves champion. There are 64 clubs that participate in the Championnat de France amateur annually, the clubs are split into four parallel groups of 16 with their group affiliation being based on the regional location. The league is open to the best reserve teams in France and amateur clubs in France, since the league it is considered amateur, teams receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. One point is awarded for a loss, a club gets no points from a game for certain disciplinary reasons or if they forfeit. Teams are ranked by points, then goal difference

19.
Rangers F.C.
–
Rangers Football Club are a football club in Glasgow, Scotland, which plays in the Scottish Premiership, the first tier of the Scottish Professional Football League. Their home ground, Ibrox Stadium, is in the south-west of the city, Rangers were the first British club to reach a UEFA tournament final and won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1972 after being runner-up twice in 1961 and 1967. A third runners-up finish in Europe came in the UEFA Cup in 2008, Rangers have a long-standing rivalry with Celtic, the two Glasgow clubs being collectively known as the Old Firm. The four founders of Rangers – brothers Moses and Peter McNeil, Peter Campbell, Rangers first match, in May that year, was a goalless friendly draw with Callander on Glasgow Green. David Hill was also a founder member, in 1873, the club held its first annual meeting and staff were elected. By 1876 Rangers had its first international player, with Moses McNeil representing Scotland in a match against Wales. In 1877 Rangers reached a Scottish Cup final, after drawing the first game, Rangers refused to turn up for the replay, Rangers won the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup the following year against Vale of Leven 2–1, their first major cup. The first-ever Old Firm match took place in 1888, the year of Celtics establishment, Rangers lost 5–2 in a friendly to a team composed largely of guest players from Hibernian. The 1890–91 season saw the inception of the Scottish Football League, the clubs first-ever league match, on 16 August 1890, resulted in a 5–2 victory over Heart of Midlothian. After finishing joint-top with Dumbarton, a play-off held at Cathkin Park finished 2–2, Rangers first-ever Scottish Cup win came in 1894 after a 3–1 final victory over rivals Celtic. By the start of the 20th century, Rangers had won two titles and three Scottish Cups. During William Wiltons time as secretary and then team manager. Taking over as manager from William Wilton in 1920, Bill Struth was Rangers most successful manager, on 2 January 1939 a British league attendance record was broken as 118,567 fans turned out to watch Rangers beat Celtic in the traditional New Years Day Old Firm match. During the wartime regional league setup, Rangers achieved their highest score against old firm rivals Celtic with an 8–1 win in the Southern Football League, Rangers also lost by their biggest Old Firm margin of 7–1. Rangers reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1960, losing to German club Eintracht Frankfurt by a record aggregate 12–4 for a Scottish team. In 1961 Rangers became the first British team to reach a European final when they contested the Cup Winners Cup final against Italian side Fiorentina, Rangers lost again in the final of the same competition in 1967, by a single goal after extra time to Bayern Munich. The Ibrox disaster occurred on 2 January 1971 when large-scale crushing on an exit at the culmination of the New Years Day Old Firm game claimed 66 lives. An enquiry concluded that the crush was likely to have happened ten minutes after the final whistle and to have been triggered by someone falling on the stairs

20.
Ibrox Stadium
–
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. The home of Rangers F. C. Ibrox is one of the largest football stadiums in the UK, and it was opened as Ibrox Park in 1899, but suffered a disaster in 1902 when a wooden terrace collapsed. Vast earthen terraces were built in its place, while a main stand, a British record crowd of 118,567 gathered in January 1939 for a league match with Celtic. After the Ibrox disaster of 1971, the stadium was largely rebuilt, the vast bowl-shaped terracing was removed and replaced by three rectangular, all-seated stands by 1981. After renovations were completed in 1997, the ground was renamed Ibrox Stadium, Ibrox has also hosted the Scotland national football team, particularly when the national stadium Hampden Park was redeveloped in the 1990s. Ibrox also hosted three Scottish domestic cup finals in the same period and it has also been the venue for concerts by major performers, including Frank Sinatra. Rangers played its first match in May 1872, on Glasgow Green, the club then played home matches on public pitches across Glasgow, first moving to a regular home ground at Burnbank in 1875. A year later, Rangers played at the Clydesdale cricket ground in Kinning Park and this ground was improved to give a capacity of 7,000, but it was not owned by Rangers. After hints by the landlords that they wished to develop the site, the club shared Cathkin Park with Third Lanark for the remainder of the 1886–87 season. Rangers first moved to the Ibrox area later in 1887, playing on a site immediately to the east of the current stadium. The first match at this stadium was an 8–1 defeat to English side Preston North End on 20 August 1887 and this inaugural match had to be abandoned after 70 minutes due to a pitch invasion. The first Ibrox Park was a success in the short term, Celtic Park, built in 1892, was more advanced, however. Rangers opted to construct a new stadium, raising funds by forming a limited company, the last match at the old ground was played on 9 December 1899. The new Ibrox Park was formally opened with a 3–1 victory over Hearts on 30 December, Ibrox Park, as it was known between 1899 and 1997, is almost completely different from the Ibrox Stadium of today. It followed the model of most Scottish stadiums of the time, comprising an oval track around the pitch, with a pavilion, the ground had a capacity of 40,000. Celtic Park, Ibrox and Hampden Park all competed with other to host Scottish Cup Finals and Scotland matches. To aid their chances of gaining that revenue, Rangers constructed a large terracing, holding 36,000 people, the terracing, designed by Archibald Leitch, was formed by wooden planks bolted onto a framework made of iron. A similar wooden terracing was constructed at the end, giving a total capacity of 75,000

21.
Motherwell F.C.
–
Motherwell Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premiership, Motherwell have not dropped out of the top-flight of Scottish football since 1985, but have only lifted one trophy in that time – the Scottish Cup in 1991. Clad in their traditional claret and amber, Motherwell play their matches at Fir Park Stadium and have done since 1896. The clubs main rivals over the years have been Hamilton Academical and Airdrieonians and these matches are known as the Lanarkshire derby. Motherwells debut fixture proved to be a one as they overcame Hamilton Academical 3–2. On 5 August 1893 the decision was made to professional. Up until 1895 the club had played at a few different venues, including a site at Roman Road, the small pitch and muddy conditions at Dalziel Park were deemed unsuitable and fortunately Lord Hamilton granted a lease on a plot of land on his Dalzell estate. This new ground was named Fir Park and has remained the home for over one hundred years. The following years saw the club grow, appointing their first and longest serving manager to date, John Sailor Hunter, in 1913 the decision was made to change the clubs colours from blue to the now signature claret and amber. Motherwell enjoyed a period in the aftermath of World War I. The club placed third in the 1919–20 season and, although narrowly avoiding relegation in 1924–25, they climbed the table. In the summer of 1927, the made a very successful tour of Spain, winning six out of the eight games they played. These results included an emphatic 3–1 victory over Real Madrid and a 2–2 draw with Barcelona, following their success in Spain, the club went on another summer tour, this time of South America. After losing only three of their previous ten games, the tour culminated in a 5–0 defeat by a Brazilian League Select side, the championship was sealed on 23 April 1932, when Rangers could only draw at home against Clyde, handing Motherwell the title without kicking a ball. This was also the only League title won by a club outside the Old Firm between 1904 and 1947, in the two seasons following the league title win, Well finished runners up. Motherwell also contested three Scottish Cup finals in this period – in 1931,1933 and 1939, following the break-up of the squad after World War II, the club were not instantly successful. It then captured two trophies in as many years with victories in the 1950 Scottish League Cup Final. The club was relegated for the first time ever at the end of the 1952–53 season

22.
Irony
–
Irony, in its broadest sense, is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or event in which what appears, on the surface, to be the case, differs radically from what is actually the case. Irony may be divided into such as verbal, dramatic. Verbal, dramatic, and situational irony are often used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth, other forms, as identified by historian Connop Thirlwall, include dialectic and practical irony. Also, Eric Partridge, in Usage and Abusage, writes that Irony consists in stating the contrary of what is meant, the use of irony may require the concept of a double audience. The term is used as a synonym for incongruous and applied to every trivial oddity in situations where there is no double audience. The American Heritage Dictionarys secondary meaning for irony, incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs and this sense, however, is not synonymous with incongruous but merely a definition of dramatic or situational irony. It is often included in definitions of irony not only that incongruity is present, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, The term irony has its roots in the Greek comic character Eiron, a clever underdog who by his wit repeatedly triumphs over the boastful character Alazon. The Socratic irony of the Platonic dialogues derives from this comic origin. e, the word came into English as a figure of speech in the 16th century as similar to the French ironie. It derives from the Latin ironia and ultimately from the Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía, meaning dissimulation, Romantic irony, A self-aware and self-critical form of fiction. Cosmic irony, A contrast between the absolute and the relative, the general and the individual, which Hegel expressed by the phrase, when the audience knows that the character will die before morning. It is most often used when the author causes a character to speak or act erroneously, in tragic irony, the audience knows the character is making a mistake, even as the character is making it. Verbal irony is distinguished from situational irony and dramatic irony in that it is produced intentionally by speakers, for instance, if a man exclaims, Im not upset. But reveals an upset emotional state through his voice while truly trying to claim hes not upset, but if the same speaker said the same words and intended to communicate that he was upset by claiming he was not, the utterance would be verbal irony. This distinction illustrates an important aspect of verbal irony—speakers communicate implied propositions that are contradictory to the propositions contained in the words themselves. Were left in no doubt as to whos ambitious and whos honourable, the literal truth of whats written clashes with the perceived truth of whats meant to revealing effect, which is irony in a nutshell. Ironic similes are a form of verbal irony where a speaker intends to communicate the opposite of what they mean, a fair amount of confusion has surrounded the issue of the relationship between verbal irony and sarcasm. Fowlers A Dictionary of Modern English Usage states, Sarcasm does not necessarily involve irony and irony has often no touch of sarcasm and this suggests that the two concepts are linked but may be considered separately. 2 a, a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, the psychologist Martin, in The Psychology of Humour, is quite clear that irony is where the literal meaning is opposite to the intended and sarcasm is aggressive humor that pokes fun

23.
Dinaburg FC
–
Dinaburg FC was a Latvian football club, playing in the city of Daugavpils. In 2009 it merged with FK Daugava, the club played at the Daugava Stadium. On October 5,2009, Dinaburg was expelled from the Virsliga and they lost 8–0 on aggregate, losing 5–0 in Edinburgh and 3–0 in Daugavpils. They qualified to play JK Nõmme Kalju from Estonian Meistriliiga, Estonia and they won 2–1 in Daugavpils, and drew 0–0 in Tallinn. In the second round they played Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F. C, in Israel they lost 4–0 and 1–0 in Daugavpils. Later that season they were relegated from both leagues they participated in – Virsliga and The Baltic Football League, because of suspicions about match-fixing and illegal betting. FK Daugava Daugavpils took their place in Virsliga 2010, having all the players that played for Dinaburg in their squad. 1st leg, 0–0 2nd leg, 0–4 Aggregate, 0–4 Second round OFK Beograd 1st leg, 1–3 2nd leg, 0–2 Aggregate, 1–5 UEFA Intertoto Cup 2005 First round Bangor City F. C. C

24.
UEFA Intertoto Cup
–
The competition was discontinued after the 2008 tournament. Teams who originally would have entered the Intertoto Cup now directly enter the qualifying stages of the UEFA Europa League from this point, the tournament was founded in 1961–62, but was only taken over by UEFA in 1995. Any club who wished to participate had to apply for entry, the cup billed itself as providing both an opportunity for clubs who otherwise would not get the chance to enter the UEFA Cup and as an opportunity for sports lotteries to continue during the summer. This reflects its background, which was as a tournament solely for football pools, in 1995, the tournament came under official UEFA sanctioning and UEFA Cup qualification places were granted. Initially, two were provided, this was increased to three after one year, but in 2006, it was increased to the final total of 11. The Intertoto Cup was the idea of Malmö FF chairman Eric Persson, thommen, and the Austrian coach Karl Rappan, who coached the Swiss national team at the 1938 FIFA World Cup and at the 1954 World Cup. The Cup for the Cupless was also promoted by the Swiss newspaper Sport. It derived its name from Toto, the German term for football pool, thommen, who had set up football betting pools in Switzerland in 1932, had a major interest in having purposeful matches played in the summer break. UEFA were initially disinclined to support the tournament, finding its betting background distasteful, nevertheless they permitted the new tournament, clubs which qualified for one of the official continental competitions, such as the European Champions Cups and Cup Winners Cup, were not allowed to participate. The first tournament was held in 1961 as the International Football Cup, initially the Cup had a group stage, which led to knock-out matches culminating in a final. By 1967, it had become difficult to organize the games, and so the knock-out rounds, instead, group winners received prizes of CHF10, 000-15,000. By 1995, UEFA had reconsidered its opinion, took control of the tournament. Initially, two winners were given a place in the UEFA Cup, the success of one of the first winners, Bordeaux, in reaching the final of the 1995–96 UEFA Cup encouraged UEFA to add a third UEFA Cup place in 1996. Many clubs disliked the competition and saw it as disruptive in the preparation for the new season, as a consequence, they did not nominate themselves for participation even if entitled. Following the threat of bans of English teams from all UEFA competitions, in following years, UEFA made it possible for nations to forfeit Intertoto places. Other clubs have built upon their success in the UI Cup, furthermore, UEFA rejected this assertion that the tournament is disruptive. In December 2007, following the election of new UEFA president Michel Platini and this was a part of a range of changes that were to be made to the UEFA Cup/Champions League System. Instead of teams qualifying for the Intertoto Cup, they now qualify directly for the qualifying stages of the UEFA Europa League

25.
Messiniakos
–
Founded in 1888, Messiniakos Gymnastic Club is the oldest athletic club in Greece. Messiniakos traditional colours are green and white, the club used to be home to the Papaflessia international athletics meeting. The volleyball team had excellent appearances in the First Division, but is not participating at the current time, the football team participated in the Second Division in the 2006-07 season. Its president is international businessman Stavros Papadopoulos, Papadopoulos is the former owner of Kalamata and Apollon Kalamaria. Papadopoulos has shown he has the plan for Messiniakos. He bought the team a few years back when it was just a local team and he has invested money into the team and brought in talented young players. The next years the team weakened and now it plays in Messenia local League. The volleyball womens team of Messiniakos plays in A2 Ethniki, the womens team has played one time in A1 Ethniki, in 1984-85 season. The mens volleyball has also played in A1 Ethniki Volleyball during 1985-88 period

26.
BBC
–
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. It is headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, the BBC is the worlds oldest national broadcasting organisation and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees. It employs over 20,950 staff in total,16,672 of whom are in public sector broadcasting, the total number of staff is 35,402 when part-time, flexible, and fixed contract staff are included. The BBC is established under a Royal Charter and operates under its Agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The fee is set by the British Government, agreed by Parliament, and used to fund the BBCs radio, TV, britains first live public broadcast from the Marconi factory in Chelmsford took place in June 1920. It was sponsored by the Daily Mails Lord Northcliffe and featured the famous Australian Soprano Dame Nellie Melba, the Melba broadcast caught the peoples imagination and marked a turning point in the British publics attitude to radio. However, this public enthusiasm was not shared in official circles where such broadcasts were held to interfere with important military and civil communications. By late 1920, pressure from these quarters and uneasiness among the staff of the licensing authority, the General Post Office, was sufficient to lead to a ban on further Chelmsford broadcasts. But by 1922, the GPO had received nearly 100 broadcast licence requests, John Reith, a Scottish Calvinist, was appointed its General Manager in December 1922 a few weeks after the company made its first official broadcast. The company was to be financed by a royalty on the sale of BBC wireless receiving sets from approved manufacturers, to this day, the BBC aims to follow the Reithian directive to inform, educate and entertain. The financial arrangements soon proved inadequate, set sales were disappointing as amateurs made their own receivers and listeners bought rival unlicensed sets. By mid-1923, discussions between the GPO and the BBC had become deadlocked and the Postmaster-General commissioned a review of broadcasting by the Sykes Committee and this was to be followed by a simple 10 shillings licence fee with no royalty once the wireless manufactures protection expired. The BBCs broadcasting monopoly was made explicit for the duration of its current broadcast licence, the BBC was also banned from presenting news bulletins before 19.00, and required to source all news from external wire services. Mid-1925 found the future of broadcasting under further consideration, this time by the Crawford committee, by now the BBC under Reiths leadership had forged a consensus favouring a continuation of the unified broadcasting service, but more money was still required to finance rapid expansion. Wireless manufacturers were anxious to exit the loss making consortium with Reith keen that the BBC be seen as a service rather than a commercial enterprise. The recommendations of the Crawford Committee were published in March the following year and were still under consideration by the GPO when the 1926 general strike broke out in May. The strike temporarily interrupted newspaper production and with restrictions on news bulletins waived the BBC suddenly became the source of news for the duration of the crisis. The crisis placed the BBC in a delicate position, the Government was divided on how to handle the BBC but ended up trusting Reith, whose opposition to the strike mirrored the PMs own

Forwards are the players on an association football team who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are …

The forward (10, red) is past the defence (16, white) and is about to take a shot at the goal. The goalkeeper will attempt to stop the forward from scoring a goal by preventing the ball from passing the goal line.

Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. The …

The pavilion of the second Ibrox Park. Built 1899, demolished 1928.

Rangers play Motherwell at Ibrox Park in 1920. The pavilion and grandstand that can be seen on the right of the pitch, were replaced by the Bill Struth stand in 1928. The 'Bovril Stand' (North Stand) can be seen on the left.